Archive for the 'Hellogoodbye' Tag Under 'Soundcheck' Category

KCRW’s annual World Festival series at the Hollywood Bowl already looked to be a winner this year when the venue's season was announced last month. The NPR outlet has plenty to boast about in its lineup: Norwegian electronic outfit Rökysopp with Swedish pop star Robyn on June 29, Janelle Monáe with Afropop ensemble Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 on June 22, a complementary pairing of Glen Hansard with Iron & Wine on Aug. 10, a potentially sublime night from Caetano Veloso, Andrew Bird and Devendra Banhart on Sept. 21.

Now the one blank in their show schedule has been filled in – with another excellent mix.

Pixies, who have been carrying on just fine since the departure last year of original bassist Kim Deal, will make their Bowl debut as part of KCRW’s series on Sept. 28. Also on the bill is rambunctious Gypsy punk outfit Gogol Bordello, in another premiere performance at the landmark, and the often intensely atmospheric Cat Power.

Presumably, Paz Lenchantin, who has served with A Perfect Circle and Billy Corgan’s Zwan project, among others, will continue in the four-string role by that time – although seeing as she was a replacement for a replacement herself, taking over for Muffs frontwoman Kim Shattuck, there’s not telling what could change come fall.

About a decade has passed since Forrest Kline and his Huntington Beach band Hellogoodbye first amassed an allegiance of neon-clad teenage enthusiasm.

With catchy songs about tormenting home-wreckers and getting caught eating ice cream at 3 a.m., Kline’s penchant for pop was established from the get-go. Yet, for those who recall sweaty summers spent at the Warped Tour seeing Hellogoodbye in its side-stage infancy, it’s eye-opening to realize that the guy responsible for the 2006 album Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! turned 30 this month.

Having built a career out of analyzing adolescent tribulations atop delicate dance-pop melodies, Kline has returned to the road, currently touring in support of his group’s third studio effort, Everything Is Debatable. The sound of that disc has evolved greatly from the dial-up-modem simplicity of the band’s earlier work. Modernity comes matched by maturity, as Kline explains his songwriting has taken on new shapes.

“Life gets real,” he says. “I think that's all over this record. Every pop song I've ever really loved is pretty serious at its core, even if the message is that you simply got to let loose because life is insane. I want to hear a pop song that's informative, but at the same time has the power to make you worry a little less about that information.”

Paramore’s Self-Titled Tour, named after its similarly eponymous new album, marked the first time the band has returned to Anaheim since 2010. But more importantly, Saturday night’s show at Honda Center reaffirmed the reconfigured group’s rank as an absolute powder keg of pop-rock precision.

Channeling Franka Potente as the heroine in cult classic Run Lola Run, singer Hayley Williams appeared onstage with fiery red hair and vigor to match. In an arena just shy of three-quarters full, the volume level from eager fans nonetheless exceeded what accompanies most maximum-capacity concerts. And with Williams at the helm, there would be few lulls in the action.

Kicking the evening off with recent selections “Grow Up” and “Fast in My Car” showcased the newly downsized band’s pop prowess. The addition of keyboards and the general carom between strings and percussion provided the perfect platform for the frontwoman to reel in listeners with vocal sass and catchy hooks.

That balance was further developed with tunes like “Ignorance” and the new single “Now.” Driving guitars and percussion that were nothing short of pummeling gave Williams room to take to stage risers and soar above the audience. At all points during the band’s 90 minutes, the spitfire remained in complete command.

Just announced: the Bamboozle Roadshow 2010, the touring incarnation of the annual punk/metal/emo/etc. festival that was due to play the Theatre at Honda Center, is moving to a new location -- and date.

Right: sounds relentlessly boring to me, too. But it kinda makes sense, sales-wise. Totally different lineup for that demographic, who come June will be itching to spend their allowances. If they'd turn out in numbers enough to fill Honda Center at half-house, why wouldn't this thing come close to selling out?

(Due to a family emergency, our assigned writer was unable to cover the show. But check out some of the pictures from last night's gig by clicking either of the photos here. NFG and company play again at 7:30 tonight at the Mouse House.)

Since signing with punk mainstay Epitaph early last year, things have been looking up for NFG. They're no longer the TRL darlings they were in the early '00s, but their latest release, Not Without a Fight, has garnered positive return-to-form reviews, thanks in part to the work of producer Mark Hoppus, bassist for Blink-182.

NFG heads overseas in April to continue promotion of its latest material in Japan, Australia and England.

• John Mayer / Michael Franti + Spearhead -- Now that he's drawn heat for his off-color, borderline-racist, mostly just thoughtless comments in that notorious Playboy interview, Mayer seems to be shutting his yap and sticking to what he does best -- concocting sweet pop ditties while still blazing on six strings. Find out if he shoots his mouth off again (and whether his Battle Studies material improves live) when he headlines Thursday night at Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., in downtown Los Angeles. Value-added bonus: opening act Franti and his group Spearhead, riding high off good vibes from his infectious smash “Say Hey (I Love You).” Tickets are $40-$80. The pairing also stops March 27 at Mandalay Bay Resort, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd South, in Las Vegas, $60-$90. 800-745-3000. ticketmaster.com

• New Found Glory / Saves the Day -- It's been a year since the Florida quintet New Found Glory issued its sixth album, Not Without a Fight -- so maybe this outing with the Jersey boys of Saves the Day (whose seventh disc, Daybreak, is due later this year) will mark their last shows before heading back into the studio. In any case, the co-headlining trek, also featuring Huntington Beach favorite Hellogoodbye (itself overdue for a new album) and NYC outfit Fireworks, wraps up with shows Saturday and Sunday at House of Blues Blues Anaheim, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive. Tickets are $20. 714-778-2583, 800-745-3000. hob.com, ticketmaster.com

• Gomez -- Six albums on (its last, A New Tide, washed in nearly a year ago) this British quintet is stronger than ever and headed back to its home away from home, Los Angeles, for two shows this weekend, Saturday and Sunday at El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., in Los Angeles. The Little Ones open on Saturday, Family of the Year on Sunday. Tickets are $23. Also at El Rey this week: She & Him, the charming duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, who will showcase selections from their playful new release Volume 2 (due March 23), Thursday, sold out. Living Sisters open that gig. 800-745-3000. ticketmaster.com

• Hall of Famers in Anaheim -- Within five days of each other, two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will make their way to the Grove: Saturday brings a solo set from two-time inductee Stephen Stills, his first such local venture in three years (read about the challenge I've thrown down to fans here) ... while Wednesday delivers another performance from Kinks king Ray Davies, roughly two years after his last gig at the Grove (2200 E. Katella Ave.). L.A. power-pop outfit the 88 will open the latter show. Tickets are $37.50-$47.50 for Stills, $45-$55 for Davies (who also plays Thursday at the Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside Drive, in Agoura Hills, $34.50). Call 714-712-2700 or 800-745-3000 for more details. Online: grove-of-anaheim.com, ticketmaster.com

Mariah Carey(right,for those who live under rocks), having recently nabbed another chart-topping showing with her new album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, has announced plans for her first full-blown outing in three years, kicking off Jan. 2 at Borgata in Atlantic City. The relatively small-scale Angels Advocate Tour makes only one Southern California stop, Feb. 23 at Gibson Amphitheatre, with opening act RydazNrtist (howzat exactly?). Tickets, $69.75-$150.75, go on sale Saturday, Dec. 19, at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, Alicia Keys (below left, if you didn't recognize her), whose fourth album The Element of Freedom arrived today, will bring her logically named Freedom Tour to Staples Center on April 6. Those tickets, $45-$125, go on sale Sunday at noon.

Also at Staples: Walking with Dinosaurs -- The Arena Spectacular, Sept. 9-12, $39-$79, on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. UPDATE: That event also comes to Honda Center Sept. 1-5, $34.40-$92.15. Tickets are on sale now.

In teen heartthrob news: 15-year-old Canadian sensation Justin Bieber will spend Valentine's Day with screaming fans at the Hollywood Palladium, on sale Friday at 5 p.m. Nick Jonas and his new band the Administration, on the other hand, have added three more shows, Jan. 27-29, to their stand at the Wiltern, on sale now.

November 8th, 2009, 10:57 am by KEVIN FLINN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

In the spring of 1997, as a high school senior eagerly awaiting graduation, I was unfortunately without a car. My friend Rick drove a used Chevy Blazer (and therefore me) and owned one CD: the single version of Hanson's “MMMBop,” which he played continuously.

Rick had purchased the disc after hearing the song on the radio, but once it became a No. 1 smash in almost a dozen countries -- and the moppety mugs of Isaac, Taylor and Zac were plastered all over TV -- Rick “lost” the CD, eventually claiming he'd never even owned it.

This backlash was all too common in the late '90s and early '00s, and while it may never be cool to listen to Hanson (or at least cop to listening to Hanson), the three-piece from Tulsa never really went away — the band of brothers is currently putting the finishing touches on its as-yet-unnamed eighth LP (due in 2010) and touring the U.S. behind a mostly-acoustic EP titled Stand Up, Stand Up.

On Saturday, the group's Use Your Sole Tour bopped into L.A. Live's jam-packed Club Nokia (it stops Wednesday at House of Blues Anaheim), and while Rick was noticeably absent, the adoring legion of Hansonites were out in force to support the band that most of them never stopped supporting.